The Punter’s Prince has his sights set across the Nullabor with the runner-by-runner guide for the Group 1 Winterbottom Stakes over 1200 metres.
There is plenty to like about this year’s favourite, but is he worth a bet?
#1 Rock Magic
chris & michael gangemi
The oldest racehorse in the country!
This 12-year-old gelding has been a marvel for the Gangemi stable and continues to plug away in these big races.
He doesn’t have the zest in his legs to win this, but it would not shock us if he ran one more big race before his career comes to an end.
Odds: $31 the win and $7 the place.
Finishing position: Third
#2 elite street
daniel morton
Last year’s winner and the clear standout in the race this year.
Bring a picket fence of wins into the race and was absolutely enormous when winning from the rear half of the field at Ascot last start.
Drawing a middle pin will not harm his chances.
Brad Rawiller should be able to blend into a midfield run with some cover and then use this sprinter’s devastating change of gears to win the race.
No idea how they he gets beat if he brings his last start effort to this race.
Odds: $2.5 the win and $1.3 the place.
Finishing position: First
#3 red can man
steven wolfe
He is an honest horse.
However, he is probably not quite up to this level and looks to have hit a ceiling this campaign.
Odds: $15 the win and $4 the place.
Finishing position: Eighth
#4 laverrod
Sean & Jake casey
Out of form and even his best is not good enough to win this.
Odds: $51 the win and $10 the place.
Finishing position: Fifteenth
#5 money matters
chris & michael gangemi
Money definitely does matter and if you are keen on keeping or getting a return you probably will not want to be on Money Matters.
Well beaten by Elite Street last start and nothing will change here.
Odds: $31 the win and $8 the place.
Finishing position: Twelfth
#6 indian pacific
neville parnham
Has a Group 1 placing to his name this year after finishing third in the Newmarket Handicap behind Zoutori.
Prefer him in handicap grade rather than weight-for-age level as he gets no weight relief on the better horses.
Odds: $16 the win and $4.4 the place
Finishing position: Seventh
#7 outrageous
luke fernie
Former Hawkes galloper who struggled to win benchmark races in Victoria.
At least connections can say they have a Group 1 winner.
Simply put, he cannot win.
Odds: $81 the win and $18 the place
Finishing position: Fourteenth
#8 cup night
bernie miller
An intriguing runner who goes very well when racing fresh.
Has had two very sound trials leading into this race and might run a cheeky one at each-way odds.
Barrier is the concern, but he is a long price, so might be worth a small each-way play.
Odds: $21 the win and $6 the place.
Finishing position: Fifth
#9 stageman
grant & alana williams
Has not won for a while and that trend will all but surely continue here.
Another horse who will be better suited by handicap conditions and come back in class.
Odds: $12 the win and $3.8 the place.
Finishing position: Thirteenth
#10 carocapo
jim taylor
Good luck.
Odds: $201 the win and $41 the place.
Finishing position: Ninth
#11 iseered iseered
luke fernie
Not a winning chance in this.
Follow him if he drops down in grade next start.
Odds: $31 the win and $7 the place.
Finishing position: Eleventh
#12 long beach
chris & michael gangemi
Another one of the Gangemi runners who is surely outclassed.
Odds: $41 the win and $8.5 the place.
Finishing position: Last
#13 river beau
bruce watkins
Another addition to what is already a very long tail in this race.
Odds: $101 the win and $26 the place.
Finishing position: Tenth
#14 flirtini
simon miller
Her best might be competitive in this.
Unfortunately, she has been out of form for a while now and would prefer to see her run well again before trying to back her into form.
Odds: $31 the win and $7.5 the place.
Finishing position: Sixth
#15 graceful girl
grant & alana williams
The barrier draw was not exactly graceful for Graceful Girl.
She will jump from gate 18 and will need William Pike to produce magic like we have never seen it before.
Has the dash to win this, but could way too far back if Pike concedes a start.
Odds: $6.5 the win and $2.10 the place.
Finishing position: Second
#16 wilchino
daniel morton
Another winning machine for Daniel Morton.
This mare is gunning for seven wins in a row and could very well pull it off from the soft barrier.
Probably will not have to go around a horse and might just very well dart up the inside.
The only query with her is the big step up to Group 1 grade.
Think her stablemate is the better horse.
Would rather see her prove she can handle a Group 1 sprint before putting hard earned on her in a race of this calibre just yet.
Odds: $31 the win and $8.5 the place.
Finishing position: Fourth
